Eco-Driving: Fuel Savings and Environmental Benefits Combined
The term "eco-driving" encompasses two significant meanings: "It is both an ecological and highly economical way of driving," explains Frédérique, a driving instructor at the Faidherbe driving school in Paris. By adopting eco-driving practices, individuals can not only reduce their CO2 emissions but also save up to 20% on fuel costs, according to figures provided by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME).
To clarify this further, a driving school in Paris proposed a challenge: compare your usual driving habits with an eco-conscious driving style on the same route. We accepted and headed to the Faidherbe driving school with the challenge in mind.
On a Thursday morning, we embarked on a 6 km route in the eastern part of Paris. As a typical urban driver, our daily routine involved frequent stops at red lights, interactions with cyclists, navigating complex intersections, and adhering to speed limits.
"You’re doing quite well for someone who’s not used to driving in the city. You’ve earned your license," joked Frédérique, our instructor for the day. However, the dashboard of the Renault Clio we were driving displayed a less-than-stellar eco-score: 77/100, with 8 liters of fuel consumed per 100 km. Our anticipation and gear shifting technique were suboptimal from an eco-driving perspective, the dashboard indicated.
"See, your driving is okay, but there’s still room for improvement. Last week, I achieved an eco-driving score of 96 out of 100," remarked Frédérique. Reaching such scores is not an accident, requiring implementation of several essential habits, even before getting behind the wheel.
Firstly, it is crucial to carefully plan your route in advance. "Traffic congestion inevitably leads to increased fuel consumption. Avoiding it as much as possible is key," advised Frédérique. Verifying that tires are properly inflated and performing a basic vehicle check-up (oil, coolant, brake fluid, filter cleaning) are also essential. A poorly maintained car can result in up to 25% more fuel consumption, according to road safety experts.
Vehicle weight is another determining factor. Remove any unnecessary weight, including roof racks when not in use, as overloading can lead to a 10 to 15% increase in fuel consumption.
Finally, if your car is equipped with one, enable the "eco mode." This feature typically optimizes transmission settings and limits engine power, promoting more fuel-efficient driving.
With this advice in mind, we set off again, guided by Frédérique’s eco-driving tips. This time, our goal was to release the accelerator as much as possible, anticipate events to avoid unnecessary stops, and shift gears promptly. These three elements form the foundation of eco-driving.
To start, Frédérique advised us to accelerate briskly to shift gears more quickly. By 30 km/h, we had reached third gear, fourth gear at 40 km/h, and fifth gear at 50 km/h. Mechanically, this is feasible, even if shifting into fifth gear while driving in the city can feel awkward, as you may need to downshift quickly.
Anticipating was more challenging. "You see, right there, you just wasted fuel," explained Frédérique as we accelerated just before stopping at a red light. "To avoid this, I have a simple trick for you," she added.
Simply monitor neighboring traffic lights: "If the pedestrian lights on the intersecting street turn red, your own light is about to turn red as well." Another trick, as traffic light cycles are usually quite regular, "if yours has been green for thirty seconds or so, it’s likely to turn red soon." While this constant attention was somewhat demanding, frequently releasing the accelerator also fostered a more relaxed driving experience.
"Eco-driving is a bit like a meditation session," we remarked to Frédérique. "That’s also what contributes to improved road safety," she replied. Ultimately, eco-driving encourages greater vigilance on the road, reduced stress, increased safety distances, and better speed management, which can reduce the risk of accidents by 10 to 15%, according to French road safety organization Bison Futé.
After driving about 7 km, slightly more than the first route, we returned to the Faidherbe driving school. Though we hadn’t beaten Frédérique’s eco-driving scores, we had achieved a respectable 94 out of 100. Encouragingly, the dashboard now praised our anticipation and gear shifting.
On the second route, we consumed only 6.4 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, a 12% fuel saving. Remarkably, on the seven kilometers covered during the second leg of our drive, six were driven without pressing the accelerator, compared to just two kilometers in the first leg. Yet our average speed remained the same on both routes. "This goes to show that eco-driving doesn’t slow you down," concluded the ECF instructor at Faidherbe.
